2023 Hill Country Homecoming

Dear Family and Friends of Polly,

Greetings from the Polly Texas Pioneer Association (PTPA), and Happy 2023!

We are pleased to announce the return of our “Hill Country Homecoming” event, on the historic grounds of Polly’s Chapel, 359 Polly's Chapel Rd, Bandera, TX 78003, on Saturday, May 6, 2023, from 10 am to 2 pm.

For over ten years, the Hill Country Homecoming has been our signature event, an opportunity for family and friends to gather and rekindle the memories of Polly Rodriguez and our Texas ancestors. This year will be extra special since it will take place after a three-year hiatus. We return with a renewed spirit to celebrate our ancestors’ daily lives and milestones.

Our event will begin with benediction and a brief PTPA report highlighting our goals and latest projects as well as include an artifact exhibit, auction of heritage items, bar-be-que lunch and tours of the chapel, school and cemetery.

This event is free and open to anyone who is interested in celebrating our Tejano history.

Of course, your participation is key to our event success! We hope you will consider joining us for this celebration of Tejano legacy. This event will help the PTPA ensure Polly’s memory and legacy lives on for years to come.

Please save the date: Saturday, May 6, 2023 from 10 am to 2 pm.

To sponsor this event, please click here to download the sponsorship form.

To donate an auction item, please click here.

To volunteer for this event, please click here.

Have questions? Please contact board member, Vivian Cantu at 210-892-0135.

Viva Tejas!

Rudi R. Rodriguez
Vice-Chairman
Polly Texas Pioneer Association

Hill Country Holiday Cancelation Notice

Each year, we hold an annual “Hill Country Holiday” event at Polly’s Chapel to thank the community for their gracious support. This year, out of concern for the health and safety of the community, this event has been canceled. Please know that we greatly appreciate your support and continued contributions during these difficult time. We hope to see you next year at our annual fundraiser! If you have any questions, please contact us at (210) 982-0135.

Annual Homecoming event

As you all know, our annual Homecoming was canceled, yet some of our community sponsors still provided us with funding. This has been very important as some of our operating expenses continue. We look forward to our scheduled “Hill Country Holiday” event tentatively scheduled for November 14, 2020 and seeing all of our family, friends, and supporters.

Polly's Chapel Update

The planned improvements on the proposed “Prayer Garden” in the rear of “Polly’s Chapel” has also been delayed on account of the “COVID19”. Once again, as soon as certain mandates are lifted, we will resume our scheduled activities. A Clean-up Day is also pending for the chapel.

Polly's Schoolhouse Update

Polly’s Schoolhouse, Photo© Texas Tejano.com

Also, the scheduled clean-up Day for the Polly’s School House was canceled due to ‘COVID 19”. Once again, once the mandates are lifted, we announce a new date. Plus, we have a scheduled “Open-House” on September 12, we hope you will attend.

In June, we will kick-off a ‘Door and Window’ Sponsorship Campaign for these items in the school. There has already been a keen interest in this effort as sponsorship will allow your name or ancestor to be single-out on a plaque located on the doors and windows. Contact us for more information.

Polly Cemetery Clean-up Day

Unfortunately, the scheduled Clean-up Day in April for the cemetery was canceled due to the “COVID19” mandates. Once the mandates are lifted, we will schedule a new date. However, the first cleaning and maintenance earlier this year has made a very positive appearance on the site.

Also, we have let a contract to install in-ground corners on the new designated burial blocks and plots to more easily determine locations.

Texas Historical Commission Designation for “Polly’s Cemetery”

This year, Polly Texas Pioneers Association, asked Texas Tejano.com to prepare an official “Historic Cemetery Designation” application for the Texas Historical Commission. This application is required to be submitted to review the required information and historical documents to consider the designation of “Historical Cemetery” for “Polly’s Cemetery”.

The requested information is extensive and requires scholarly research with appropriate written material with footnotes. Additionally, historical documents such as surveys, recorded deeds, photos, and a requested cemetery census if available. Unfortunately, the resulting challenge has been that there were never official records kept by any prior trustees or family members of individuals buried or the location of internment.

The exception to this was a 1985 “Tomb-Stone”(only) record conducted by the “Los Bexareños Genealogical Society” of San Antonio. For those of you interested, this record does not supply the location of interment nor burials beyond that year. Later this year, we will attempt to provide this list on our website.

For the record, the Polly Texas Pioneer Association has only been in existence for the past five years and is not responsible for records that were never kept. However, recently we asked a surveyor to plot new cemetery lots toward the front of the cemetery and we have already begun a cemetery registration journal for the future. Individuals requesting internment can supply a minimum of information to be recorded in the journal. Lastly, we have submitted our request for designation and upon receiving the designation we will pursue a request for a historical medallion and erect a plinth to place it on.